ORGANIZERS of the 1st PBA Ateneo-La Salle showdown are
looking forward to a competitive but wholesome and highly entertaining duel
between the two rival schools on Easter Sunday.
As much as possible, they want none of the fight that marred
the last exhibition game played between the two teams.
The March 23 duel, slated at the Araneta Coliseum and
sponsored by Yakult Health Drink, will use PBA rules.
"Since it is an officially PBA sanctioned event, the game
will be played under the same rules as the PBA," said Executive Director Rickie
Santos. "If a player is assessed a flagrant 2 foul and ejected out of the game
for an automatic suspension, chances are he'll be serving out the suspension by
the coming Fiesta Conference."
Proceeds of the charity match, featuring former La Salle and
Ateneo players now seeing action in the pro league, will go to the PBA Players'
Educational Trust Fund.
The event is set at 4 p.m. and will be televised live on
Studio 23.
A near free-for-all erupted in the last Ateneo-La Salle
exhibition showdown in 2005 also at the Big Dome as Archer Joseph Yeo bludgeoned
Blue Eagle Enrico Villanueva on the bridge of his nose, leaving the former UAAP
Most Valuable Player and current San Miguel Beerman a bloody mess.
The incident almost led to a near walkout by the Ateneo
squad.
"We'll be a little stricter this time. As much as possible we
want to avoid the same incident that happened three years ago. This is all about
friendly competition for a worthy cause," said Commissioner Sonny Barrios.
Villanueva will be back to banner the Ateneo side, also
composed of Larry Fonacier, Paolo Bugia, Gec Chia, Doug Kramer, JC Intal, LA
Tenorio, Wesley Gonzales, Macky Escalona, Magnum Membrere and veteran Olsen
Racela.
Likewise back for another tour of duty for the Blue Eagles is
Talk N Text mentor Chot Reyes.
Yeo, not yet a pro during that fight-marred incident, is
listed in the La Salle roster along with Mack Cardona, Carlos Sharma, Mike
Cortez, RenRen Ritualo, Adonis Sta. Maria, Don Allado, Mark Telan, JR Aquino,
Ryan Arana, Junjun Cabatu and Willie Wilson.
Barangay Ginebra's Jong Uichico will call the shots for the
Green Archers.
Ateneo won that highly-contested match 88-85 as Villanueva bucked the bloody
injury he suffered by sinking the game-winning three-pointer in the final
seconds.
